Closed-loop dental matrix band with combined keeper and traction block



Dec. 9, 1969 TQFFLEMIRE 3,482,314

CLOSED-LOOP DENTAL MATRIX BAND WITH COMBINED KEEPER AND TRACTION BLOCK Filed Nov. 22, 1968 :El [3". 5.. I El- 22 l5 8 2| 5' is El Z5 l4 1 2 3 I6 INVENTOR.

' BENJAMIN TOFFLEMIRE ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,482,314 CLOSED-LOOP DENTAL MATRIX BAND WITH COMBINED KEEPER AND TRACTION BLOCK Benjamin F. Totflemire, 41301 Crest Drive, Hemet, Calif. 92343 Filed Nov. 22, 1968, Ser. No. 778,092 Int. Cl. A61c /12 US. CI. 32-63 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A closed-loop dental matrix band with combined keeper and traction block wherein a matrix band of pliable material has a loop for fitting around and embracing a patients tooth, the band defining arms extending from the loop to provide terminal sections at their outer ends that overlap one another. A looped keeper surrounds these terminal sections, and the keeper and the overlapped terminal sections being formed with interlocking crimped offsets so as to anchor the keeper against slippage along the lengths of said terminal sections, the keeper defining a traction block, and a pin, or the like, is provided to reinforce the anchoring of the keeper to the band terminal sections and preventing the keeper from being sheared off when traction force is exerted thereagainst.

SUMMARY As the cardinal object of this invention, it is proposed to provide a closed-loop dental matrix band with combined keeper and traction block that may be readily applied to a patients tooth and thereafter a traction instrument may be utilized for constricting a loop of the band around the tooth, Without any danger of shearing off the keeper when traction force is exerted thereagainst.

More specifically stated, it is proposed to provide a dental matrix band defining a loop designed to surround the tooth of a patient, the band having a pair of arms extending from the loop, the arms providing terminal sections at their outer ends that overlap and are butted against one another. A looped keeper is telescoped over these terminal sections and interlocked crimped offsets are formed in the keeper and the terminal sections of the band so as to positively hold the keeper from slippage along the lengths of the terminal sections. The keeper provides a traction block against which beaks of a traction instrument may bear when the loop of the band is being constricted around the patients tooth, and a pin, or the like, extends through the keeper and the terminal sections of the band to reinforce the anchoring of the keeper and preventing the latter from being sheared off when the traction force is exerted thereagainst.

Other objects and advtantages will appear as the specification proceeds, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which:

FIG. 1 is a bucco-lingual sectional view showing my improved dental matrix band applied to a patients tooth;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1 as seen from the occlusal plane;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the matrix band and the keeper, respectively, prior to anchoring the latter to the former;

FIGS. 5 to 8, inclusive, illustrate the several steps that are employed for securing the keeper to the overlapped terminal sections of the matrix band; and

FIG. 9 discloses a modified embodiment for securing the keeper to the band terminal sections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing in detail, a dental matrix band A has been shown, and this band is made of pliable material, defining a loop 10 designed to surround and embrace the surface contour of a patients tooth B. In following the usual practice, the cavity 11 may be prepared in the tooth prior to applying the matrix band around the tooth.

As disclosed in FIG. 3, the matrix band A may be precontoured with a preformed isthmus groove 12 in its tooth-embracing or inner surface. The band has a pair of arms 1313 extending from the loop 10, each arm providing a terminal section 14 at its outer end, the arms overlapping and being butted together in the final article of manufacture, as shown in FIG. 2.

Moreover, a looped keeper C is telescoped over the terminal sections 14 of the arms 13-13 in surrounding relation therewith, as the first step in assembling the band and keeper (see FIG. 5). Then the keeper C and the overlapped terminal sections 14 of the matrix band A are formed with interlocking crimped offsets 15 therein (see FIG. 6), thereby positively anchoring the keeper C against slippage along the lengths of the terminal sections of the band A.

The keeper C has opposite sides 16 that bear against the overlapped terminal sections 14, and the sides 16 project laterally beyond opposite sides of the terminal sections 14 of the band A to provide a traction block against which beaks 17 of a traction instrument may abut when the band is being constricted about the banded tooth B. Any suitable traction instrument may be used for this purpose, for example, the instruments shown in my United States Patents Nos. 3,237,307 and 3,305,928.

As the next step of anchoring the keeper C to the terminal sections 14, hole 18 is drilled or punched through the centers of the interlocking offsets 15 of the keeper and terminal sections, as shown in FIG. 7. This hole is preferably disposed midway between the gingival and occlusal edges 19 and 20, respectively, of the terminal sections 14 (see FIG. 1). Then a short tapered pin 21 is inserted through the hole in the keeper and band, and this pin may be made from hard stainless steel wire.

Then the opposite ends of the pin 21 is secured to the keeper by any suitable means so as to prevent the opposite sides 16 of the keeper from expanding outwardly when traction force is applied. This may be accomplished by soldering, brazing or welding, as indicated at 22 in FIG. 8. This makes a tremendously strong union, reinforcing the anchoring of the keeper C to the terminal sections 14 and preventing the keeper being sheared off when the traction force is exerted thereagainst.

The keeper C has a groove 23 in one face thereof in registration with the interlocking crimped offsets 15, and the pin 21 extends through this groove to the opposite side 16 of the keeper. These interlocking crimped offsets extend substantially the full width of the terminal sections 14 of the band and substantially at right angles relative thereto, thus resisting any tendency of shearing off of the keeper.

Prior to tightening the loop 10 of the band A around the tooth B, a U-shaped retaining clamp D is slipped over the abutting pair of arms 13, with this clamp bearing against the loop 10, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The beaks 17a of the traction instrument are movable into a position to bear against the retaining clamp D. The details of this retaining clamp are fully shown in my United States Patent No. 3,046,659. The beaks 17 and 1711 are 3 spread apart, as indicated by the arrows 24 in FIG. 2, and thus the loop of the band A will be tightened around the tooth B. Thereafter, the clamp D may be compressed on the arms 13 so as to firmly hold the loop 10 around the tooth of the patient. Then the retaining instrument may be removed.

In FIG. 9, a rivet 25 has been used in place of the pin 21 previously mentioned. This rivet has its heads 26 bearing against the opposite sides 16 of the looped keeper and it serves the same purpose as the pin 21. The term pin, or the like, as used in the claims is sufliciently generic to include both the pin 21 and the rivet 25.

This dental matrix band A may be readily positioned with respect to the tooth B, and the combined keeper and traction block C is always directed toward the traction instrument, regardless of whether the band loop 10 is applied to the buccal or the lingual surface of the prepared tooth B, or whether it is used on the upper or lower jaw, or on the right or left side of the patients mouth.

The closed-loop dental matrix band provides the dentist at the chair with a pre-contoured, pre-formed, pre-adapted and anatomically shaped retaining form for the reception of silver amalgam alloys, or for the secure holding and morphological adaptation of a wax-pattern in the direct wax-pattern technics in gold inlay work. The contoured retaining forms provided by this new band impart a smooth and properly shaped form-finished restoration, whether the dentist uses it for silver alloys or for gold inlays.

The combined keeper and traction block C encloses and securely fastens the terminal sections 14 into a closedloop band with the following manifold advantages: The keeper and traction block C is simply held between the thumb and forefinger of the dentist and the loop 10 is placed over the prepared tooth B and carried to place by the forefinger of the opposite hand. This gives the dentist a completely unobstructed view of the prepared tooth; there are no loose ends of the matrix band to flop around in the way and annoy the patient and dentist alike; and there are no loose ends of the matrix band to bring together and thread through the retaining slot of a mechanical matrix retainer.

The closed-loop band is easily stored so as to be available, and the keeper C is always away from the loop 10 encircling the tooth B, whereby the slotted beaks 17 and 17a of the traction instrument may be inserted over the arms 1313 of the band A. It is merely necessary to spread the beaks, as indicated by the arrows 24, in order to tighten the band around the tooth. It will be noted that the traction, or pull, is in a straight line with maximum efficiency. It is evident that the beaks 17 and 17a need move only a short distance and the band loop 10 will tighten twice this distance. The same closed-loop band may be used on molars or bicuspids.

I claim:

1. In a closed-loop dental matrix band with combined keeper and traction block:

(a) a matrix band of pliable material defining a loop designed to surround and embrace the surface contour of a patients tooth, the band having a pair of arms extending from the loop, each arm providing a terminal section at its outer end, the arms overlapping and butting against one another;

(b) a looped keeper telescoped over said terminal sections in surrounding relation therewith, the keeper having opposite sides bearing against said terminal sections;

(c) the sides of the keeper and overlapped terminal sections of the band being formed with interlocking crimped offsets therein so as to positively anchor the keeper against slippage along the lengths of said terminal sections;

(d) a pin, or the like, extending through said interlocking ofisets to reinforce the anchoring of the keeper to said terminal sections and preventing the keeper from being sheared off when traction force is exerted thereagainst;

(e) the sides of the keeper projecting laterally beyond opposite sides of the overlapped terminal sections of the band to provide a traction block against which beaks of a traction instrument may abut when the band is being constricted about the banded tooth.

2. The closed-loop dental matrix band with combined keeper and traction block, as set forth in claim 1:

(f) and in which the opposite ends of the pin, or the like, are secured to the keeper to prevent the opposite sides of the keeper from expanding outwardly when said traction force is applied.

3. The closed-loop dental matrix band with combined keeper and traction block, as set forth in claim 2:

(g) and in which the keeper has a groove fashioned in one face thereof in registration with said interlocking crimped offsets, and the pin, or the like, extends through this groove to the opposite side of the keeper.

4. The closed-loop dental matrix band with combined keeper and traction block, as set forth in claim 2:

(g) and in which said interlocking crimped offsets extend substantially the full width of said terminal sections of the band and substantially at right angles relative thereto, thus resisting any tendency of shearing off of the keeper.

5. The closed-loop dental matrix band with combined keeper and traction block, as set forth in claim 4:

(h) and inwhich the band defines gingival and occlusal edges, and the pin, or the like, is disposed substantially midway between these edges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,262,208 7/1966 Johnson 32-63 ROBERT PESHOCK, Primary Examiner 

